Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea, also known as Karkade Tea or Jamaica Tea, is a must-try whether you’re searching for something warm and calming on chilly days or chilled and refreshing during the summer months! It’s sweet, tart (like cranberry juice), attractive (look at the color! ), and packed with health benefits, making it an excellent substitute for caffeinated beverages or soda. This agua fresca is considered a superfood, and when consumed in moderation, it has numerous health advantages.

What is Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus tea is a heated or iced tea brewed from hibiscus flowers (particularly the crimson and magenta calyces of the roselle plant) and water. This herbal tea, which has been drunk for hundreds of years, is fruity and tart with a beautiful red/purple color.

Hibiscus drink recipes are popular around the world, especially in South America, but also in Africa, Asia, and Europe. As a result, it is also known as roselle tea, karkady/karkade/karkadeh, or bissap in Northern Africa, carcadè in Italy, Sorrel in the Caribbean, and agua de Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-cah) in Latin America.

Best of all, you can enjoy these hibiscus tea recipes all year long, as they can be made with fresh or dried hibiscus blooms from your garden. With only two basic components, there are several ways to enhance the flavor of the tea.

What are the health benefits of Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus blossoms are not only lovely, but they also provide several health benefits. It may help to strengthen your immune system and prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. This can lower your risk of acquiring a variety of serious health concerns, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Anthocyanins are another type of antioxidant found in hibiscus tea. It helps with weight loss and liver health, among other things.

In spite of all the health benefits, I once read that hibiscus tea might lower estrogen levels, so it’s best to avoid it if you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant (or are taking hormonal medicines). Hibiscus tea can potentially be harmful to your liver if consumed in excess. See a medical expert before including this in your diet if you have any concerns.

Notable Ingredients At A Glance 

Hibiscus – Hibiscus tea requires fresh or dried hibiscus blossoms. My top picks are Roselle, Rosa Sinensis, and Hibiscus Sadbariffa. You can dry a few fresh flowers to use later if you have access to them.

Sweetener – Cut the tartness of the drink with your preferred sweetener. Specifically, honey, sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, jaggery, a simple syrup, or a sugar-free sweetener such as erythritol/stevia (the latter is good for those with diabetes, too).

Lime – Lemon juice offers a wonderful tart flavor that complements the flavor.

Water – Water forms the base of the drink. 

How To Prepare Hibiscus Tea?

Bring water to a boil, then add dried hibiscus blossoms and steep. 

Pour it into a glass, and add in some lemon or lime juice and sweetener (as per your choice). 

You can enjoy it warm or chill it in the refrigerator for future use. 

Some Expert Tips for Hibiscus Tea

• Hibiscus leaves a stain, so take that in mind when making this tea.
• Dried hibiscus can be purchased online. These dried flowers are also available in most supermarkets. 
• The hibiscus flowers can be steeped in water and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, drizzle with lemon juice and honey.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vPdMSPnB7D6xEb8-bzFcO0ys3JvGeOsesAS_3a0TSRw/edit